For Obama, a sudden struggle with personal appeal

By JULIE PACE and JENNIFER AGIESTA

Published 3:01 pm, Monday, November 4, 2013

WASHINGTON — For years, President Barack Obama’s personal favorability ratings served as a political firewall that sustained him through an economic recession, grueling fights with congressional Republicans, and the grind of a re-election campaign.

But after a rough start to Obama’s second term, Americans increasingly view the president unfavorably. And perhaps most concerning for the White House: an Associated Press analysis of public polling shows it has become more difficult over time for Obama to fully rebound from dents in his favorability ratings.

The public’s increasingly negative view of Obama may be less of a concern for his future given that he’ll never run another election campaign. But the president still needs a strong connection with the public in order to rally Americans around his policy proposals.